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Tennesseans have bravely served this nation in war and peace since the state’s founding in 1796 and even before, when the territory formed part of North Carolina.

Three presidents — Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson — have called the Volunteer State home, and scores of other native sons and daughters have wielded an outsize influence on the state of national affairs, from Cordell Hull to Estes Kefauver to Howard Baker.

Their leadership has never been more needed than now, at a time of crisis when the president of the United States has shown he is out of sync with the values of pluralism that define our country, and is willing to divide the nation.

Corker, R-Chattanooga, for months has generally praised the president — with the exception, of course, of his famous “downward spiral” comment in May. Further, he has avoided directly criticizing Trump, as recently as Wednesday, when given multiple opportunities to address Trump’s comments on Charlottesville.

On Thursday, however, he finally lost his patience and joined the chorus of bipartisan criticism of Trump. He told a Rotary Club meeting in Chattanooga: “The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate in order for him to be successful — and our nation and our world needs for him to be successful, whether you are Republican or Democrat.”

Those are damning words, but they have been long needed to correct the out-of-control Trump presidency.

Bravo, Senator.

You have spoken truth to power, but you may have made an enemy of the president, who is not afraid to counter-punch members of his own party.

Great Tennesseans, however, have never shirked from the responsibility to put this nation’s interests first.

Opinion and Engagement Editor David Plazas wrote this editorial on behalf of The Tennessean Editorial Board and the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.

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